Clothes washing machine



Sept. 3, 1963 F. T. PAGANINI 3,102,409

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1962 lINVENTOR.

FRANK T. PAGAN lNl ATTOPNEY Sept. 3, 1963 F. "r. PAGANlNl CLOTHESWASHING MACHINE 2 SheetsSheet 2 FiledApril 18, 1962 FIG. 2

ATTO/WVEY United States Patent 3,102,409 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE FrankT. Paganini, Melrose Park, 111., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Filed Apr. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 188,421 4 Claims.(Cl. 68-18) The present invention relates to clothes washing machinesand more particularly to liquid distribution systems for washingmachines.

My invention is particularly useful in washing machines of the typeusing water level sensing mechanisms to close a water inlet valve when apredetermined amount of water has been admitted. Such mechanisms includea fill control chamber in the drain line. The chamber may house avalve-controlling float, or, in preferred mechanisms, trap 21 column ofair responsive to the rising water level to actuate a conventionalpressure sensitive diaphragm. Actuation of the diaphragm terminates thefill operation. In the air-column actuator system, the closed reservoiror chamber communicatingwith the diaphragm is installed in the drainline upstream of the drainage pump. Pursuant to the present invention,this chamber also accomplishes an important added function, that ofguarding the pump from objects escaping into the drain line.

It is generally known that in centrifugal extraction washing machinesrotatable on a vertical axis, there is a tendency for small objects suchas handkerchiefs and socks to be floated over the basket sidewall duringthe centrifuging and pass into the drain line, and enter and damage thedrain pump. The usual mode of retaining these objects within the basketis by way of mechanical guarding devices about the periphery of thebasket. These devices are not wholly effective, and it is the practiceto supplement the guards by wire mesh screens covering the drain line orpump entrance to intercept these small objects before entering the pumpinlet. Screens however are readily clogged by lint accumulations whichwill ultimately restrict the flow of liquid into the drain line andpump.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved meansfor preventing small objects from being drawn into the drain pump of aclothes washing or clothes centrifuging machine.

It is a further object to provide in a pressure chamber for use in apositive water fill system for a clothes washing machine, aclothes-trapping guard for safeguarding the machine pump mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to utilize in a positive fillcontrol system for a clothes washer, a closed water receiving chamberfor establishing a hydrostatic air column for actuating a fillterminating mechanism, in combination with a readily accessible,removable clothes guard which prevents small clothing articles and otherobjects from entering the pump mechanism. The guard allows lint andobjects such as loose threads, etc., to

pass through for discharge from the machine.

To accomplish these and other objects, the invention contemplates theuse of a positive water fill control system with a closed chamber withinwhich a rising water level increases the air pressure in a sealed tube.The chamber includes means providing a clothes guard through which thewashing and rinsing liquid must pass on the way to .the drain pumpmechanism. In a preferred form, this guard comprises a hollow open-endedcylinder, the side walls of which are slotted to pass liquid and smallentrained particulate size objects such as lint, sediment and dirt tothe drain pump. The slots intercept any handkerchiefs, socks, washcloths and the like which may fall into the main drain tube. Suflicientslot area is provided, so that articles caught do not "ice block thedrain and flood the machine. These caught articles are held until suchtime as a trap in the chamber is opened for cleaning, a task which can:be accomplished most readily. Thus, such articles are stopped and heldbefore reaching the drain pump and prior to any damage occurring to thepump. Later these objects can readily be removed Without the necessityof use of any tools,

This invention both as to its organization and mode of operationtogether with other objects, features and advantages thereof may best beunderstood by reference to the detailed description viewed with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a washing machine with the sideremoved to facilitate viewing the machine interior;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevational view of the body portionof the fill control system;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the guard cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional View of the sealing member;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view partially broken away of the closurecap;

FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic diagram of the portion of a cyclecontrol circuit designed for use with .the invention; and

:FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic sectional elevation of apressure-responsive switch.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the clothes washing machine 10there illustrated, is of the generally known vertical axis type. Moreparticularly, the machine 10 comprises a substantially rectangularappearance housing 12 supported on a conventional base 14 adapted torest on a room floor. The enclosing housing or outer casing 12 includesa conventional wrap around element including front, side and top walls.At the rear of the top wall 15 is mounted a stepped back-splasher 16which serves as a control console. The inside of this console contains atime-cycle control mechanism 18 for conducting the washing machinethrough its several washing, rinsing, and extraction operations. By wayof example, there is shown a timer control knob 20 which is rotatablemanually to set control mechanism 18 for a properly operative cycle ofthe desired length. Also within console 16, there is mounted thewater-fill responsive switch 22, the operation of which will bediscussed more fully.

A substantially centrally disposed top opening 26 is conventionallyprovided in top wall 15 to allow access to the interior of the housing12. A conventional lid 28 is provided for the purposes of covering thetop opening 26; the lid being hinged to top wall 15 at its rear edge andmovable thereabout.

A generally rectangular, large size drain tub 30 is provided in theupper portion of housing 12. Defining the lower wall of tub 36 is abulkhead 32 welded or otherwise suitably sealed to the inner wall of thehousing, and spaced a distance above base 14 to define a machinerycompartment 34- arranged in the lower portion of housing 12, Within thiscompartment there are located the machine drive structure elements aswill be described more fully.

Centrally positionedwithin tub 3i and mounted for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis is the upstanding wash basket 35. The washbasket is generally imperf orate, is in the form of an invertedfrus-to-cone, with upwardly and outwardly flared side walls leading toan open face adjacent the casing top opening 36. About the periphery ofthe basket adjacent the open face, there may be secured an annularbalance ring 36 of high density material providing a comparatively largemoment of inertia for the basket. Below the balance ring and near itsupper periphery, basket 35 contains a horizontally 3 aligned series ofapertures or slots 37 for centrifugally ejecting water from the basket.

At the center of the spin basket there is positioned a vertical agitator=38 from which there extend a plurality of radial agitating vanes 39.The agitator is mounted coaxially on an agitator shaft 40 and isoscillated thereby. Also mounted coaxially about the agitator shaft is atubular spinner shaft (not shown), the upper end of which is secured tothe basket at the axis of rotation thereof. As is well known, atransmission mechanism acts through the spin shaft to rotate the basketat high speed when the cycle mechanism initiates a centrifugalextraction operation. The spin shaft extends within a tubular sheath 41through bulkhead 32 into the machinery compartment and the lower end ofthe spin shaft is fixed securely to the upper portion of transmissionhousing 42 so that the spin shaft and spin basket are co-rotative withthe transmission housing 42. About the transmission casing there ismounted an open rectangular support frame 44 secured about andprotecting the transmission casing 42. Within the transmission casing 42there is housed the drive linkage (not shown) necessary to transmit themotive power from drive motor 46 to the driven mechanism. These linkagesmay take any suitable for-m known in the art to effect the oscillationof agitator 38.

'Power for the washing and extraction operations is provided by a maindrive motor 46. Motor 46 may, as shown, be mounted to the supportstructure 44 by a suitable channel beam 47. The motor 46 has its outputshaft 49 depending from the motor structure. Secured about the motorshaft is a coupling to a drain pump 50 of any generally known type suchas that shown in US. Patent 2,654,239 issued to S. B. Welch on October6, 1953. The pump may preferably have its impeller fastened directly tothe motor shaft so that the pump may expel waste water out the drainline on rotation of the motor in one direction. With the motorinoperative or on rotation of the motor in the opposite direction, thepump will not remove Water from the tub, all as described in the citedWelch patent. To supply the pump 50, a drain opening '53]. is providedwith a drain line 52 in communi-- cation with pump 50. This opening ispositioned in the lowermost area of the tub so that all water enteringthe tub is directed by gravity toward opening 51. The motor 46 drivesthe transmission mechanism (not shown) by way of a belt connectionincluding the sheaves 53 and 55, and the driving belt 54. As mentionedpreviously, the transmission housing 42 is mounted within the framesupport '44 in parallel relationship to the motor 46, and includesinternal transmission linkages coupled drivingly to the agitator shaft40. As is generally known, on rotation of the motor in one direction,the transmission linkage is activated to oscillate the agitator and onrotation of the motor in the opposite direction rotates the transmissionhousing 42 and the spin basket at high speeds suitable for waterextraction.

The drive motor 46 as used herein comprises a reversible induction motorof the split-phase type which may be of the two-speed type, but forsimplicity will be described herein as a single-speed motor. The motor,a typical appliance motor, may have a rating of about /3 horsepower andan operating speed at full load of about 1,725 r.p.m. The motor isenergized through appropriate circuitry established by the time cyclemechanism 18, and at appropriate times is energized for rotation in theclockwise or counterclockwise direction to effectuate the necessaryagitate and spin operations, as will be described more fully inconjunction with the explanation of the schematic circuit of FIG. 6.

In addition, the \general construction of washing machine includes aWater inlet horn 58 discharging across the open top of basket 35 forsupplying fresh inlet Water to the basket under control of water inletsolenoid valve 59. The single solenoid valve 59 is shown isrepresentative of the hot water and cold water solenoid valvesnecessarily employed in a washing machine. The single solenoid valveshown for the purposes of this in vention supplies wash water for filland rinse water during those portions of the cycle.

Turning more specifically now to the water fill control system of theinvention, there can be seen in the drain line '52 of FIG. 1, a closedchamber 60 within which Water accumulates during the machine operativecycle. Leading from one side of the chamber 60 is a drain conduit 62leading to and feeding the pump 50. From the pump, there is aconventional outlet hose 64 which leads to a conventional plumbing drainor sewer system. Usually, said hoses lead upwardly to a discharge end 65arranged to hook over the side of a stationary tub (not shown). Leadingupwardly from the closed chamber 60 is a comparatively small diametertube 66 which extends upwardly to a connection to fill switch 22. Tube66 acts as a hydrostatic pressure tube terminating in a suitablediaphragm within switch 22, shown schematically in FIG. 7. The mechanismof switch 22 may be generally of the type known from US. Patent2,305,154 issued on December 15, 1942, to R. C. Gilbert. The mechanism22 and tube 66 are utilized in generally the same way as the hydrostaticfill system shown by Gilbert. In such systems, as liquid rises in thetube base, the column of air trapped in the tube becomes increasinglycompressed, until at a predetermined pressure indicative of a desireddegree of fill, VB. flexing or displacement of the diaphragm actuatesthe switch to deenerg-ize the water fill solenoid valve, such as 59.

In FIG. 2, is shown in greater detail, the chamber 60. This chamberincludes an imperforate, generally cylindrical, body 70 which may bemolded of such materials as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like.From the body 70, there are a number of openings. A first of theseopenings, 72, extends vertically upwardly from the top surface 73 ofbody 70 and receives drain hose 52 leading to the tub drain opening 51.A second opening 74 opens laterally from the base of body 70, andaccommodates a hose or conduit 62 leading to the inlet of pump 50. Abovethe top surface 73, there is formed a bell-shaped housing 76 in opencommunication with the interior of body 70; said housing terminates inan upwardly directed tube opening 78 to which is attached thehydrostatic tube 66 previously mentioned.

The bottom of body 70* is formed to provide a circular opening 80communicating with a large diameter, externally threaded conduit 82. Asuitable cap 84 of material like that of the tank body is internallythreaded for securement to the conduit 82. The cap includes anirnperforate cylindrical sidewall 86 and an imperforate base 87. Thehollow cap accommodates a resilient sealing gasket 88 to effect a watertight seal as the cap 84 is made tight on the conduit 82.

An open-ended guard cylinder 90 is sized to fit readily within conduit82, and in final assembly, to extend from the disc base 87 of cap 84 toadjacent the upper surface 73 of tank body 70 till the area belowopening 72. The interior capacity of the guard cylinder is such that itwill contain, without materially restricting flow of water to the pump,two or three articles the size of childrens socks, or handkerchiefs orthe like, which experience has shown are most prone to escape over therim of the basket. Naturally, the cylinder 'will not bear against theupper surface or such a condition would impede the complete tighteningof the cap onto its conduit. The cylinder when positioned in theassembly will present its open top directly below and surrounding theduct opening 72. The cylinder is slotted with a series of elongated,radially spaced, slots 92. These slots preferably are of about onefourth inch in Width and extend vertically for almost the entire mainbody portion of the guard 90. optimally there may be provided fourslots. Spacedmidway between the slots are individual stiffening ribs 94which serve to strengthen the guard structure 90. The upper and lowerends of the cylinder are formed inwardly with one or more peripheralstiffening rings 96 at the top and preferably more than one ring at thebottom. ,These rings tend to rigidize the cylinder. structure and mayalso serve to brace the adjacent cap sidewall 86, after assembly. Withthe cap in place, there is formed within the cylinder a depending trapfor catching and holding objects without disturbing the flow through theslots 92.

In FIG. 6, there is shown the portion of a washing machine controlcircuit necessary to explain the functioning of the invention. Thecontrol knob 20 is for manual adjustment of the time-cycle controlmechanism 18 which includes a conventional timer motor 100 and camactuated contacts 102, 104, 105, 106, 107 and 108 which are timecontrolled in a generally known manner to open and close various controlcircuits at predetermined periods in the operative cycle. Contacts 102,which complete the circuit to timer motor 100, are temporarily closed bymanual rotation of knob 20 to start the motor 100. Shortly thereafter,contacts 102 restore to open position; as presently explained, theyreclose at the start of the washing operation, and remain closed forcontinuing the operation of the timer motor. This is necessary becausethe alternate timer motor circuit is periodically interrupted, as laterappears. Contacts 104 are connected in series with the solenoid valve 59for energization of the solenoid thereof. Contacts .104 are closedwhenever water fill is required and are opened on the start of theimmediately subsequent operation, which may be a wash operation or anextraction operation. Contacts 106 and v108 control the drive motorcircuit to operate it in its washing cycle direction. To complete theagitate circuit to the driver motor '46, there are pro vided contacts112, 113, which are sealed within the watertight casing 115 of waterlevel switch '22. Said contacts are normally open and are closed only onactuation by the diaphragm 117 in a known manner. When the operationalcycle attains its centrifugal extraction stage, to spin out either thewash or rinse water, the timer closes the motor-reversing contacts 105and 107. These contacts are sequenced in a manner providing that themotor 46 will come to a stop at all times between closures of contacts105 and 107 on the one hand and contacts 106 and 100 on the other.

Completing the circuit are motor-controlled contacts 114, 116, and :118which are speed responsive under the control of motor centrifugal device120. Contacts 114 are normally open and close only when the motor isrotating at a speed above a predetermined motor speed to maintain themotor rotative in the agitate direction. Contacts 116 are normallyclosed, and in this condition, complete the energizing path to waterfill solenoid 59. This energizing path is prepared by closure oftimeroperated contacts 104. Contacts 116 open at motor speeds above apredetermined speed to deenergize the solenoid valve circuit. Contacts118 close the timer motor circuit following fill, to restart the timerfor agitation.

Now analyzing the operation of the machine, FIG. 6 shows a portion ofthe circuit necessary for the machine operation. First, knob 20 ismanipulated to the start position which closes contacts 102. Contacts102 on closure complete the energizing circuit to timer motor 100 whichstarts the rotation of the timer cams (not shown) :to close the camcontacts in a sequence designed to perform the required operative cycle.Contacts 104 close shortly thereafter to complete a circuit throughnormally closed contacts 116 to solenoid valve 59. Also during theoperation of the timer motor 100, contacts 106 and 108 close apreparatory circuit to the main drive motor 46. This preparatory circuitis open at contacts 112 and 11-4 at this time, so the motor circuit isnot complete. Contacts 102 reopen subsequent to the closure of camcontacts 104, to open the timer motor circuit. Solenoid valve 59 onenergization feeds water to the inlet horn 58 and fills basket 35.

As basket 35 fills with Water above the level of apertures 37, theexcess water fiows out these openings 37 and begins to fall ontobulkhead 32 of tub 30. Since opening 51 is at a low area of bulkhead 32,this opening receives practically all of the basket overfill. Thisbasket overfill flows into drain line 52, and into the body 70 of thefill control mechanism. Motor 46 has not been energized, whereupon thepump 50 acts to block outflow of water from the body 70. Water backs upin line 62 and begins to fill the tank body 70. As the liquid rises inthe tank body past top surface 73, a comparatively large volume of air(relative to tube 66) is trapped in hell 76. As the water levelcontinues to rise in duct 72, the volume of trapped air in the air bell76 causes a rapid increase in the pressure in tube 66. As a result, whenthe water level reaches to approximately the dashed line 1 22, therightward displacement of diaphragm 117, as viewed in FIG. 7, operatesto close contacts 112 and 113. Closure of these contacts completes thecircuit to motor 46 over a path from lead L1 through contacts 106, motor46, contacts 108 and 112 to lead L2. The motor is thus energized in theagitate direction.

As the motor accelerates, it closes centrifugal contacts 114 to shuntout the diaphragm switch contacts 112, 113, and lock the motor to thecentrifugal switch contacts. Contacts 116 open the circuit to solenoidvalve 59, terminating water inflow to the basket. Timer motor isenergized over closed contacts 118, and the motor then proceeds to closecontacts 102 and open time controlled contacts .104 to completely openthe fill circuit. Motor 46 on rotation in the agitate direct-ion rotatespump 50 in a direction which generates a negative head of water in thepump maintaining the Water in the tub drain lines. Motor 46 rotates tooscillate agitator 38 for washing such clothes as are in the basket.

At the conclusion of the time allotted for agitate, contacts 106 and 108open, deenergizing motor 46. After the motor has had suflicient time todecelerate, contacts and 107 close. This closure completes a reversepath to motor 46 from lead L1 through contacts 107, motor 46, contacts105 to lead L2. The motor is energized for spin in this direction andproceeds to accelerate basket 35. Also, rotation of the motor for spin,rotates pump 50 to drain the exhaust water out outlet drain 64. Basket35 rotating at high speed centrifugally extracts water from the basketthrough holes 37. All this water accumulates in drain tub 30 for flowdown drain line 52. All this liquid passes into the hollow cylinder 90for flow through cylinder slots 92 into tank body 70. From the tank bodythe exhaust liquid flows out duct 74 and through drain line 62, and pump50. From pump 50, this fluid is expelled to the exhaust line 64.

In this analysis, it was pointed out that all exhaust liquid passesthrough the drain line 52 and pours. into the cylinder. This watercarries with it entrained lint and some times small items of clothing orfabric such as handkerchiefs, socks and the like which may have escapedfrom the basket during the extraction operation. The lint, being ofsmall, particulate size, will pass readily through the quarter inchwidth slots while the fabric items will not pass through thecomparatively narrow slots. Thus the cylinder 90 acts as a guard toprevent objects larger than particulate size from reachingthe pump, butallows lint and sediment to pass through easily and will flush down thedrain.

It will be understood that after the spinout of the wash water, themachine fills again, operates the agitator for rinsing the clothes, andthen centrifugally extracts the rinse water. The fill control mechanismand other switching components operate in the manner described above.The cycle is concluded when the timer returns theswitch 7 102 to openposition immediately after the other timecycle switches have restored totheir FIG. 6 condition.

It is well known that in childrens playclothes particularly, substantialamounts of sand may accumulate, and that buttons, pins, and the like maybecome detached from clothing during washing. A pump guard embodying thepresent invention intercepts and retains such nonfloatable items, whilepermitting lint and other light material to pass to the pump. Waterbearing such contaminants enters the guard cylinder from the top, andmust make an abrupt change in flow direction to pass to the pump. Heavymaterial is thrown -from the main stream, to accumulate in theimperforate lower portion of the cylinder, which, as shown, is of quitesubstantial length.

After the conclusion of a cycle, the cylinder may readily be cleaned, ifdesired. Cap 84 is readily accessible through the large cabinet opening128, and can be unscrewed without the use of tools. Sand, buttons, pinsand the like will be trapped in the cap 84, and any small laundryarticles which may have entered the chamber 70 are immediately evidentand may be recovered. After cleaning the cylinder, seal disc and cap maybe returned to position in a simple one-step restoration, followingwhich the cap 84 is replaced and tightened. In this way the guardcylinder is readily restored to position to perform its pump guardingfunction during the next cycle.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be -apreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein and it is my intent to coverin the appended claims all such modification-s as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

51. In aclothes washing machine of the type in which clothes are washedin a wash basket rotatably mounted within a water retentive tub and fromwhich wash and rinse water is centrifugally discharged into said tub:the combination comprising electrically actuated means for feeding waterto said basket and said tub;

a substantially cylindrical fill control chamber below said tub;

a tub drainage conduit communicating between a low portion of said tuband an inlet opening in the top of said chamber whereby said chamberfreely rei ceives water from said tub; a fill sensor in communicationwith said chamber, said sensor reacting to a predetermined quantity ofliquid received by said charnber fromsaid tub;

a switch mechanism actuated responsive to the reaction of said sensorfor stopping the further feeding of water to said machine;

a water drainage pump openly communicating with said fill controlchamber for discharging water flowing therethrough from said tub;

an open-ended cylindrical pump guard having an inside diametersubstantially larger than that of the chamber inlet opening and anoutside diameter substantial-1y less than that of the control chamber,said guard having a plurality of elongated, axially extending passagesthrough the wall thereof;

means providing a tubular extension of said chamber at the bottomthereof, said extension being concentric with said inlet opening andsubstantially shorter than said guard cylinder, said extension beingsized to snugly receive the end portion of said cylinder;

and cap means arranged to fit about said cylindrical extension to closethe bottom thereof against leakage of water; i

the said end portion of said cylinder being imperforate and with saidtubular extension forming a trappingchamber for intercepting andretaining heavy sedimentary material while permitting passage offloatable material such as lint.

2. In a clothes washing machine of the type which includes a wash basketmovable within a water retentive tub for washing clothes in said basket,

a washing distribution system comprising means for filling said basketand overflowing to said tub,

a fill control reservoir comprising a closed chamber having a removable,imperforate cap at its bottom,

an inlet from said tub to said chamber for receiving the overflowingwater from said tub,

a bell portion on the upper surface of said chamber,

a hydrostatic air tube leading from said bell portion,

said bell portion positioned to increase the air pressure in said tubeon rise of water in said inlet above the top surface of said closedchamber,

a switch responsive to a predetermined increase in air pressure withinsaid tube for ending the fill of water to said machine,

means for extracting water from the basket to said tub for exhausttherefrom,

a water drainage pump conduit means leading from said chamber to saidpump for feeding extracted water to said pump,

said pump operative during said extraction to draw water from said tubthrough said chamber,

an upstanding hollow cylinder interposed in said chamber in the path ofpassage of all water to said conduit means, I

said cylinder having an imperforate lower wall portion of substantialaxial length and a plurality of slots through its upper wall portion forpassing water to said pump,

said slots sized to detain objects larger than particulate size fromreaching said pump while passing objects of particulate size such aslint and sediment for exhausting from said pump,

said cap receiving said cylindrical lower portion to form therewith atrap for retention of non-floatable matter such as sand and the like.

3. In a clothes washing machine of the type in which clothes are washedin a wash basket rotatably mounted within a water retentive tub and fromwhich wash and rinse water is centrifugally discharged into said tub:the combination comprising electrically actuated means for feeding waterto said basket and said tub;

a substantially cylindrical water chamber below said tub;

a tub drainage conduit communicating between a low portion of said tuband an inlet opening in the top of said chamber whereby said chamberfreely receives water from said tub;

a water drainage pump openly communicating with said chamber fordischarging water flowing therethrough from said tub;

an open-ended cylindrical pump guard having an inside diametersubstantially larger than that of the chamber inlet opening and anoutside diameter substantially less than that of the control chamber,said guard having through the wall thereof, a plurality of elongated,axially extending passages substantially the length of said chamber;

means providing a tubular extension of said chamber at the bottomthereof, said extension being concentric with said inlet opening andsubstantially shorter than said guard cylinder, said extension beingsized to snugly receive the end portion of said cylinder;

and cap means arranged to fit about said cylindrical extension to closethe bottom thereof against leakage of water;

the said end portion of said cylinder being imperforate and with saidtubular extension forming a bottom trapping-chamber for intercepting andretaining heavy sedimentary material while permitting passage offloatable material such as lint.

4. In a clothes washing machine of the type in which clothes are washedin a wash basket rotatably mounted within a water retentive tub and fromwhich wash and rinse water is centrifugal-1y discharged into said tub:the combination comprising means for feeding water to said basket andsaid tub;

a substantially cylindrical chamber below said tub;

a tub drainage conduit communicating between a low portion of said tuband an inlet opening in the top of said chamber whereby said chamberfreely receives water from said tub;

a water drainage pump openly communicating with said fill controlchamber at a low point thereof for discharging water flowingtherethrough from said tub;

an open-ended cylindrical pump guard having an inside diametersubstantially larger than that of the chamber inlet opening and anoutside diameter substantially less than that of the control chamber,said guard having a plurality of elongated, axially extending passagesthrough the wall thereof; 1

means providing a tubular extension of said chamber at the bottomthereof, said extension being concentric with said inlet opening andsubstantially shorter than said guard cylinder, said extension beingsized to snugly receive an end portion of said cylinder;

and means for closing the bottom of said extension against leakage ofwater;

the said end portion of said cylinder being imperforate and coextensivewith said tubular extension to form therewith a trapping-chamber forintercepting and retaining heavy sedimentary material while permittingpassage of floatable material such as lint.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,103,966 Behan Dec. 28, 1937 2,343,743 Breckenridge Mar. 7, 19442,885,879 Bloom May 12, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 884,966 Great Britain Dec.20, 1961

2. IN A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE OF THE TYPE WHICH INCLUDES A WASH BASKETMOVABLE WITHIN A WATER RETENTIVE TUB FOR WASHING CLOTHES IN SAID BASKET,A WASHING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM COMPRISING MEANS FOR FILLING SAID BASKETAND OVERFLOWING TO SAID TUB, A FILL CONTROL RESERVOIR COMPRISING ACLOSED CHAMBER HAVING A REMOVABLE, IMPERFORATE CAP AT ITS BOTTOM, ANINLET FROM SAID TUB TO SAID CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING THE OVERFLOWING WATERFROM SAID TUB, A BELL PORTION ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID CHAMBER, AHYDROSTATIC AIR TUBE LEADING FROM SAID BELL PORTION, SAID BELL PORTIONPOSITIONED TO INCREASE THE AIR PRESSURE IN SAID TUBE ON RISE OF WATER INSAID INLET ABOVE THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID CLOSED CHAMBER, A SWITCHRESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED INCREASE IN AIR PRESSURE WITHIN SAID TUBEFOR ENDING THE FILL OF WATER TO SAID MACHINE, MEANS FOR EXTRACTING WATERFROM THE BASKET TO SAID TUB FOR EXHAUST THEREFROM, A WATER DRAINAGE PUMPCONDUIT MEANS LEADING FROM SAID CHAMBER TO SAID PUMP FOR FEEDINGEXTRACTED WATER TO SAID PUMP, SAID PUMP OPERATIVE DURING SAID EXTRACTIONTO DRAW WATER FROM SAID TUB THROUGH SAID CHAMBER, AN UPSTANDING HOLLOWCYLINDER INTERPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER IN THE PATH OF PASSAGE OF ALL WATERTO SAID CONDUIT MEANS,